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Concerns over serious decline in Pope’s health
Posted By cninewsletter On December 20, 2011 (5:49 pm) In World News

Pope Benedict XVI seems worn out.

People who have spent time with him recently say they found him weaker than they’d ever seen him, seemingly too tired to engage with what they were saying. He no longer meets individually with visiting bishops. A few weeks ago he started using a moving platform to spare him the long walk down St. Peter’s Basilica.

Benedict turns 85 in the new year, so a slowdown is only natural. Expected. And given his age and continued rigorous work schedule, it’s remarkable he does as much as he does and is in such good health overall: Just this past week he confirmed he would travel to Mexico and Cuba next spring.

But a decline has been noted as Benedict prepares for next weekend’s grueling Christmas celebrations, which kick off two weeks of intense public appearances. And that raises questions about the future of the papacy given that Benedict himself has said popes should resign if they can’t do the job.

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Nun set free without charges
Posted By cninewsletter On December 15, 2011 (5:29 pm) In World News

A court freed Sister Mary Elisha of the Missionaries of Charity on Dec. 15, who was arrested on the allegation of child trafficking, after the attorney general said an investigation had proved she is innocent and her service is genuine.

“I forgive all who are responsible for putting me in jail,” said Sr. Mary Elisha after she left the court.

Officials of the National Child Protection Authority (NCPA), who raided the Prem Nivasa orphanage for young unwed mothers and babies run by the Sisters on November 23 and arrested its superior nun Sister Elisha two days later, told the court they had not found any illegal activities committed by the nuns.

The NCPA’s sub inspector Sheela said investigations have been conducted by three separate state security institutions, all proving the home is a legally run institution.

A magistrate ordered the release of the nun and the return of all documents including her passport.

Police acting for the NCPA arrested the nun and imprisoned her. She was later released on bail but prevented from visiting the home.

“The NCPA should have taken due regard of the confidentiality of the institution and in this particular instance it had been damaged,” said Father Noel Dias, senior attorney and Vice Judicial Vicar of the archdiocese of Colombo.

“The arrest is illegal and the undue publicity given has caused immense hardship to the nuns concerned and also to the entire Catholic Church,” said Neville Abeyratne, a Catholic attorney who defended the nun.

“The outcome of this case has proved that the sisters are doing a humanitarian service and they are not interested in taking any action against NCPA due to their mission to serve the needy,” said Abeyratne.

A large number of priests, nuns and civil rights activists gathered to witness the proceedings and organized a thanksgiving prayer service after she was set free.

Fr. Rohan Silva, the Provincial of the Oblate of Mary Immaculate (OMI) Congregation in Sri Lanka who was in court in support of the nun said: “The world has come to know what the sisters have been doing specially for the poor, the downtrodden, the rejected and the unloved in the country.”

A government media spokesman said that the minister of child development has already apologized for any possible mistakes in the handling of the case.

We see a ray of hope, to our efforts, which we have been putting up for over the years. The inquiry, set up by H. E. Cardinal Oswald Gracias, Against the Parish Priest of St. Anthony’s Church, Malwani; has concluded, and is awaiting the report from Archbishop.

We are sure, the Archbishop will do justice. We have faith in him. The letter addressed to H. E. is self explanatory. This inquiry was set up, way back, in the beginning of 2011. Various persons deposed before the commission. It would be unfair on our part to divulge the contents, which are in our possession, until the judgment by the Archbishop is delivered.

The inquiry revolved around following points. The name of the Priest has deliberately been masked, to be fair to him, until the report is out.

Misappropriation and siphoning of parish finances, by Parish priest *******.

Mismanagement and neglect of church properties, deliberately, amounting to dereliction of duties.

We wouldn’t know, as to how many such inquiries have taken place in the past or ongoing at present, since there is lack of transparency. We believe, in transparency; therefore, putting it into public domain. In case, anyone is aware of such inquiry involving any of the parish or a parish authority, do come forward with the information.

We are in the receipt of your E mail dated 3rd, December, 2011, related to subject matter. We thank you very much. The inquiry has already been delayed. Any way, it is better late than never.

Your Eminence, We expect you to do justice, which we are sure you will. We are confident; we have provided all the material to prove the ongoing corrupt practices at the parish of St. Anthony’s Church, Malwani. In case our presence is necessary for further clarification, we are available at shortest notice.

We were informed by the panel that if there is contradiction in the depositions, there would be face to face interaction with Fr. Ajit Bandekar, which has not happened. We were looking forward to it, anxiously.

Your Eminence, we expect the outcome from your end to be transparent, which should serve as deterrent benchmark for others to follow. There is no doubt, similar situations prevail at most of the parishes, about which we have been writing to you from time to time.

We will be waiting anxiously, for your order and for the guilty to be punished, adequately.

We have been mentioning time and again, VOICE OF A SILENT MAJORITY will extend full support to you for eradicating corruption from Church administration, particularly at parish level. Parishioners are aware of it but desist from speaking, for various reasons. Their silence is taken for granted, by some Corrupt parish Priests, as parishioners approval to their nefarious activities.

We hope, and if you so desire, this should be the BEGINNING OF AN END OF CORRUPT PRACTICES AT PARISH LEVEL.

Yours always, in our LORD JESUS CHRIST;

GREG R. PEREIRA,

CATHOLICS FOR TRUTH, TRANSPARENCY AND WEEDING OF

CORRUPT PRACTICES AT PARISH LEVEL.

AH:P01-083

December 3, 2011

Email – Mr Greg Pereira

Dear Mr Pereira,

I have received your letter saying that you have completed giving your deposition in the Malwani Parish.

I have now received the report from the Enquiry Committee. I am studying the matter.

Pope Benedict began his Sunday at the Roman parish of Santa Maria delle Grazie where he celebrated Mass and underlined the importance of community spirit. He also referred to the season of Advent which was a theme he returned to back at the Vatican for the recitation of the Angelus.
He told the faithful in St Peter’s Square that Christians were called to live this period before Christmas without being distracted by commercial messages and by the festive lights even if low key as a result of the economic crisis.
Instead, he continued, they should look to Christ the “true light of the world”.
In this season, he said “ we should live waiting for Jesus, and not stop waiting for his coming.”
As is tradition on this particular Sunday of Advent, thousands of children with their parents gathered in St Peter’s Square for the traditional blessing of the “bambinelli” or little baby Jesus’ statuettes that are put in the crib.
To the children the Holy Father had a special message. “Dear children,” he said, “when you pray in front of your Nativity scene, remember me as well, as I remember you. Thank you and Merry Christmas!”

Reflecting on this Sunday’s liturgy called “Gaudete” the Pope said, it was an invitation to a joyful and not a sad watchfulness.
The essence of true joy underlined the Pope is not having fun in order to divert ourselves from our responsibilities, which at times is important, but it is something much more, it is our ability to have a true relationship with God.
Finally, before his greetings in a number of languages the Pope recalled the anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and stressed that the first right is the right to life.
He also welcomed the representatives of the Movement for Life, who are in Rome for the ‘Mother of Teresa prize’, which is awarded in memory of Chiara Lubich, founder of the ‘Focolari’ Movement.